The mission of the Lower Mainland Region of the Canadian Red Cross is to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity, in Canada and around the world.

Family Support Program
Volunteers give support to families of children admitted to BC Children's Hospital and help with transportation and getting services they need.

CHIMO helps people in need during the crises that happen in their daily lives by providing counselling and other support services.

Parent Education Series
Education workshops for parents who want to maintain communication and strengthen relationships through challenging times with their youth.

Duty counsel are lawyers paid by the Legal Services Society to help lower income people with their family law problems. If you have a family law issue, you may qualify for help from family duty counsel in Provincial Court or Supreme Court even if you do not qualify for a legal aid lawyer. This is a drop-in service. No appointments are made and people are helped on a first come, first served basis. Lawyers are available on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

A non-profit, community-based organization offering affordable counselling, education, mediation and training to help families, couples, individuals, and youth solve problems.

Community Education and Development Services
E-mail: lhall@fsgv.ca; chinese@fsgv.ca
Workshops on marriage, parenting, relationships, and personal development offered in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Parenting programs are also available for families - some especially for immigrant and refugee families with young children.

Community Kitchens
Phone:  778-885-5165
Cook with others, meet new friends, learn new recipes, and save money by shopping wisely. Participants make a small contribution for food and/or babysitting. Call to register and for more information.

Counselling Program
Phone:  604-874-2938
Counselling services to individuals, families and couples offered in English, Mandarin and Cantonese. Fees depend on your household income. Counselling services take place in the Richmond Caring Place (7000 Minoru Blvd.)

Family Life Education
Offers parenting and life skills groups and workshops for women, men, and couples. Services are offered at an affordable cost, with some subsidies available.

Outreach to Chinese Parents
Offers workshops about parenting in a new country and information in Chinese. There is a small fee.

Residential Historical Abuse Program (RHAP)
Toll Free:  1-800-563-0808
If you believe you were sexually abused as a child while living in a foster home, group, or any other residential facility operated or funded by the government of British Columbia, you may be able to get counselling under RHAP. You must currently be living in British Columbia and the abuse must have occurred while under the age of 19. Call for more information.

Richmond Foster Family Support
Web site: www.fosterhub.ca
Provides support to foster children and families in Richmond.

TASA (Richmond's Trauma and Sexual Abuse Counselling Centre)
Free crisis intervention and long-term counselling for sexually abused children, teens and their families. There are also a variety of programs for adult survivors. Services are available in English.

The Colt Program
7171 Minoru Blvd.
Richmond,  BC   V6Y 1Z3   (Map)
Phone:  604-668-6400
Fax:  604-668-6405
Provides support to pregnant students, students who are parents, and their families to help the students finish high school. A daycare program is available to the students.

Transitions to Independence
Phone:  604-660-1044
Offers life skills support to youth involved with MCFD as they become adults. Provides support, counselling, and referrals in many life skills areas, including housing, education and employment, personal health, homemaking, and advocacy.

Victim Services Program - Community Based
Gives support and guidance to people living in Richmond or are involved with the Richmond RCMP who have been in abusive relationships. Services include emotional support, information about the Criminal Justice System and other law related topics.

Part of the BC government. One of its responsibilities is to investigate and protect children from being neglected or abused. Provides programs and services to make sure that healthy children and responsible families are living safely and in inclusive communities.

Child Care Subsidy
Web site: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare
PO Box 9953 STN PROV GOVT
Victoria,  BC   V8W 9R3   (Map)
Toll Free:  1-888-338-6622
A monthly payment that helps eligible BC families with the cost of child care. You can pick up an application form and get help to complete it from Richmond Child Care Resource & Referral Centre, 190 - 7000 Minoru Blvd., Richmond, 604-279-7020.To find out if you qualify to get the subsidy, use the Eligibility Evaluator on the government website at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/childcare.

Helpline for Children
Web site: www.mcf.gov.bc.ca/getting_help/help.htm
Phone:  310-1234
Call 310-1234 (no area code needed) to speak to a trained social worker if you know a child (or are a child) under 19 years old who is being abused in any way. Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Richmond Family Services and Guardianship
130 - 5840 Cedarbridge Way
Richmond,  BC   V6X 2A7   (Map)
Phone:  604-660-9260
Fax:  604-247-1897
Offers family support services that include parenting support, counselling, child care workers, and homemaker services. Also offers adoption services and handles guardianship for youth under age 16.

Richmond Intake and Youth Probation
150 - 5840 Cedarbridge Way
Richmond,  BC   V6X 2A7   (Map)
Phone:  604-660-1044
Fax:  604-278-4972
To access child protection and family services in Richmond, call this office. This office provides some services for youth aged 16 to 19, including youth probation services.

This government ministry provides income assistance to those in need, and helps people move from income assistance to employment.

Family Maintenance Program
Family Maintenance Workers help people who receive income assistance to get child or spousal support payments they are entitled to. For more information call the BC Child Support Line (604) 660-2192

Supported by Block Parent, Crime Stoppers and the RCMP, Operation Family Identification provides free identity kits to parents and guardians. The kit contains a picture, fingerprints of the child and all of the child's vital statistics. The parent or guardian retains the only copy of the identity kit.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Circles
Weekly support and information meetings for grandparents and other relatives who are the primary caregivers of grandchildren /nieces and nephews.

Richmond Support Circle and Richmond Latin American Circle
At circles, parents talk about how they are feeling about their children and themselves. They find understanding, support and encouragement to be the parents they want to be. These circles are free, weekly and confidential. Open to parents with children 0-12 and there is on-site child minding. Transportation assistance is available.

Richmond Family Justice Centre help families undergoing separation or divorce with issues relating to child custody, access, guardianship, and child or spousal support. Family Justice Counsellers are trained to help separated families to try to resolve these issues out of court. A program of the BC Ministry of Attorney General, all family justice centres across the province offers services at no cost. Priority is given to people of modest means.

Provides programs for parents and their children birth to six throughout Richmond. Offers "Learning through Play" programs for parents with newborn babies to children of kindergarten age. You can register or drop in to programs at Richmond Family Place on Ash Street, as well as at other locations in the community. Please call for more details.

Family Support Program
Offers free parenting support, counselling and referral to all Richmond families with young children. Parents can access confidential one-on-one sessions through Living Systems or a variety of support and educational groups.

Parent Connections Program
Helps parents of young children support each other. Some of the groups include Baby Explorers and Play & Learn Drop-Ins. Call for more information.

Playroom & Learn Drop-In Program
Informal drop-in for parents with children 0 to 6 years old. Playroom offers open art activities in an early literacy environment with free play and daily circle time. Children can enjoy a closed-in backyard with sand and water play, as well as a children's garden. Drop-in hours are 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. Tuesday to Friday, 12:30pm to 2:30pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 10:30am to 12:30pm on Saturdays. There are a variety of other Play & Learn Drop-In Programs throughout Richmond. Call or check the website for more information.

Richmond Family Place Thrift Store
Sells used clothing, footwear, and small household items. Please contact for hours

Provides services for children, teens, and adults who have a developmental disability. Referral by the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development or Community Living BC.

Family Resource Coordination
Phone:  604-279-8245
E-mail: kgrossmann@rscl.org
Provides information and resources and/or support to family members who face the extraordinary circumstances that come with having a family member with a disability.

Promotes equality for women. Services include information and referral, peer support, a volunteer program, training services and a resource library. The Centre provides English conversation classes, individual computer instruction and more.

Single Mothers Support Group
Web site: www.richmondwomenscentre.bc.ca/help-groups/support-groups

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. offers services both to new immigrants and long-time residents, whether they are Chinese or not.

Family and Youth Counselling Services
Services include parenting groups and clinical counselling.

The Salvation Army is an international Christian charity that helps people in need, including families in crisis, single parents, children, seniors, and those experiencing hunger, homelessness, addiction, and abuse.

Advocacy Program
Volunteers assist individuals in need of help to obtain the appropriate services.

Children's Holiday Camp
Registers and sponsors kids from age 7 to 12 to attend summer camps at Camp Sunrise on the Sunshine Coast.

Community Christmas Dinner
Volunteers and local businesses host a community dinner for the less fortunate in December.

Emergency Social Services
Helps needy individuals and families with the basic needs of food and clothing.

Fire Victim Program
Helps tenants and homeowners without home insurance replace basic clothing, furniture and household items lost through a fire.

Free Eye Glasses
The Salvation Army refers low-income people who need glasses to Lenscrafters' Vision Care program for assistance. Must have an eye exam and a prescription ready.

Free Legal Advice
Web site: www.probono.ca
555 Homer St.
Vancouver,  BC   V6B 1K8   (Map)
Phone:  604-694-6647
Fax:  604-681-3005
Free legal advice is offered to people who cannot afford a lawyer or who do not qualify for legal aid. Call the Pro Bono Legal Clinic to make an appointment with a professional lawyer.

Richmond House
3111 Shell Rd.
Richmond,  BC   V6X 2P3   (Map)
Phone:  604-276-2490
Fax:  604-276-2490
Provides short-term, emergency shelter for up to ten homeless men. Bed for the night and three daily meals are provided. Maximum stay is 30 days. Opens 24 hours and 7 days a week throughout the year.

Weekly Free Community Lunch
A free, nutritious meal is offered to the community every Thursday at 12:30 p.m. (except during the summer months). The meal is prepared and served by volunteers. All are welcome.

SOS Children's Village BC offers long term care and support to children in family homes.

Treasure Cottage (Thrift Store)
3800 Moncton St.
Richmond,  BC   V7E 3A6   (Map)
Phone:  604-274-8866
E-mail: bhigh@shaw.ca
Located in the Steveston area, this thrift store sells clothing, small household items, books, and more. Store hours are 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 11:00 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Volunteer inquiries are very welcome! Check out the new, additional location in Kerrisdale. 2319 West 41st Ave. Vancouver, BC, V6M 2A3 or North Vancouver 121 Lonsdale Ave. North Vancouver, BC, V7M 2E7

Offers community based prenatal classes. Low-income rates are available.

Offers services focused on helping maintain family relationships. These include a range of counselling and support services for family, youth and children. Referrals to the program are made through the Ministry for Children and Family Development at 604-660-1044.

Community Action Plan for Children (CAP-C)
Groups for parents and children up to six years old to share information, socialize and learn more about parenting, problem solving and personal development. No referral necessary.

Family Preservation/Family Reunification
Offers counselling services and crisis intervention, as well as early intervention to families with difficulties. Offers counselling work with children and youth, teaches parenting skills, child development and connecting families to available resources. Must be referred by the Ministry of Children and Family Development. Call Richmond Intake Services at 604-660-1044.

A non-profit organization that brings people and services together through community information and volunteerism.

Child Care Resource & Referral Centre
Offers a free, bilingual referral service for families seeking child care in Richmond, as well as information on the types of child care available and what to look for when choosing a child care provider. Parents can also pick up Child Care subsidy application packages here and get instructions on how to complete them. In addition, the Child Care Resource & Referral Centre supports licensed and registered license-not-required family child care providers by providing free access to a resource library and a start-up equipment lending service. License-not-required child care providers registered with the Child Care Resource & Referral Centre receive regular support visits, while support visits to licensed family child care facilities can be arranged upon request.